Rihanna named the most streamed female artist in the world

While Rihanna didn’t release any albums in 2013, taking a year off, she was still named the most streamed female artist in the world by online music service Spotify.

Her last album was 'Unapologetic' in 2012, but the highly popular singer still appeared in a number of videos with other artists, including A$AP Rocky, and she was featured on Eminem's Monster from his album 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2'.

She was also featured in Shakira’s new single Can't Remember To Forget About You that released earlier this year and received a wave of criticism from Arab fans and a Colombian councilman, because the video “promotes lesbianism”, as the two singers are scantily-clad as they caress each other.

Spotify released the list to celebrate International Women's Day (March 8) and Rihanna resulted the most streamed female artist in the world - for the second year in row – thanks to hits that included "Cheers! Drink to That" from 2010 album "Loud" and 2013's "Stay” ft. Mikky Ekko.

Katy Perry and Lana Del Rey were in second and third place, respectively.

Rihanna was also the top female artist streamed in the UK, but here she was followed by Beyonce and Katy Perry in second and third position.

The singer is set to record a concept album this year based around DreamWorks' forthcoming animation 'Home' that she will also star in along with Jennifer Lopez, Steve Martin and Jim Parsons.

She will also be joining Eminem for a three-city tour of the US this summer, performing in New York, Los Angeles and Detroit this August.